Anglysky_Agabekyan_2

Английский язык

around them and looked at them with great surprise. Columbus was certain that the lands he discovered

were part of India, and he called these islands the West Indies. The people living there have been called Indians since then, though they have nothing in common with the real Indians — inhabitants of India.

His last voyage was made in 1502-1504. After that, seriously ill, he remained in Spain until his death. He died believing that Cuba was part of Asia.

Приложение 2

ACID RAINS

Every year more and more plants and animals disap­ pear never to be seen again. Strangely, it is the most intelligent but most thoughtless animal that is causing most of the problems — man. Nature is very carefully balanced and if this balance is disturbed, animals can disappear alarmingly fast. Every day, thousands of spe­ cies of animals draw closer to extinction.

In many .lakes fish are dying. Fishermen are worried because every year there are fewer fish and some lakes have no fish at all. Scientists are beginning to get wor­ ried too. What is killing the fish?

The problem is acid rain. Acid rain is a kind of air pollution. It is caused by factories that burn coal or oil or gas. These factories send smoke high into the air. The wind often carries the smoke far from the factories. Some of the harmful substances in the smoke may come down with the rain hundreds of miles away.

The rain in many places isn't natural and clean any more. It's full of acid chemicals. When it falls in lakes, it changes them too. The lakes become more acidic. Acid water is like vinegar or lemon juice. It hurts when it gets in your eyes. It also kills the plants and animals that usually live in lake water. That is why the fish are dying in lakes.

Английский язык

But dead fish may be just the beginning of the prob­ lem. Scientists are finding other effects of acid rain. In some large areas trees are dying. Not just one tree here and there, but whole forests. At first scientists couldn't understand why. There were no bugs or diseases in these trees. The weather was not dry. But now they think that the rain was the cause. Acid rain is making the earth more acidic in these areas. Some kinds of trees cannot live in the soil that is very acidic.

Приложение 2

THE STARS AND STRIPES

The history of Old Glory goes back to early colonial days. The first banner used in the colonies was, of course, the standard English flag, consisting of a red cross on a white field. The flags of the separate colonies followed the same lines except that occasionally a pine tree, or a hemisphere, was figured in the upper left quarter of the cross.

The beginning of the Revolution brought a flood of suggestions as to the design for a new standard. But it was not until June 14, 1777, that official action was taken, when the Continental Congress passed a resolution fixing the design as thirteen alternate red and white stripes, and thirteen white stars on a blue field. Each star and each stripe represented a state. As each new state was admitted to the Union, a star and a stripe were added, but it was soon realized that the addition of many more stripes would make the flag too bulky. Consequent­ ly, after having been increased to fifteen, the number of bars was reduced to the original number. But the number of stars steadily increased, until the present number of 50 equals the same number of states. The story goes that Betty Ross sewed the first flag, and it was at her suggestion that five-pointed, instead of sixpointed, stars were used.

Английский язык

While controversy continues as to why Congress se­ lected this design, there is good reason to believe that the coat of arms of the Washington family, which con­ tains both stars and stripes, furnished the inspiration. It is interesting to note that, prior to the adoption of an official flag, a banner frequently used bore the figure of a rattlesnake, coiled to strike, with the motto, «Don»t tread on me.»

Приложение 2

WHAT QUALITY MEANS

Even the dictionary finds it difficult to explain the meaning of the word quality. It has to use other words like excellence. Why is quality so hard to define? Is it because it is such an abstract word and can mean so many different things? Or because its meaning depends so much on what it describes? How can you define high quality when applied to the things you buy, for example, a pop record, a pair of shoes, a meal in a restaurant? You'll probably have three different definitions of quality for the three different things. Quality is also hard to define because it can be such a subjective word — it means quite different things to different people, even when they use the word to describe the same tiling. A Pink Floyd album may in your view have quality, but your friend may consider that the same album is a waste of good money. Yet .another problem is that the meaning of quality changes over the years. Things which you think have quality may not be seen in the same way by older people. Just ask your grandmother what she thinks of the Stones? For example, consider the two ads. Both advertise clothes for men. Advertisers stress the points which they think sell quality to prospective buyers. The selling points that are stressed in 1897 ad are durability, craftsmanship, dependability, tradition. What about the ideas of quality in the present-day ad? Present-day ads

Английский язык

do not talk about tradition or craftsmanship, dependability or durability.

They stress the virtues of newness, of being different, sometimes of being way out. Cheapness may be empha­ sized too, the fact that almost everyone can afford the product. Does this mean that quality in manufactured goods is disappearing now that most things are massproduced?

Приложение 2

DICTIONARIES

We all know the saying of a wise man who lived more than two thousand years ago: «Of making many books there is no end*. If he had been living today, he might have said the same of dictionaries, for several new ones appear every year. They are needed for various purpos­ es. Even in our own language we often find it necessary to look up a word, sometimes for the spelling, sometimes for the pronunciation, or it may be for the meaning or origin of the word.

In the twentieth century, with the remarkable increase in scientific and other knowledge, special dictionaries have to be made for special groups of words — commer­ cial, technical, psychological, medical etc. There are some very large dictionaries which are supposed to contain all the words of the language, but they are not convenient to use. They are too heavy and take too much room. If you are studying one subject, it is much better to have a dictionary which is no bigger than an ordinary book.

Students of a foreign language need a dictionary which contains all the words in common use in their own lan­ guage and the one they are trying to learn, that is, the words they are likely to hear in conversation, and on the radio, and those they will meet in the books and newspa-

Английский язык

рега they read. Such dictionaries usually give the mean­ ing of a word by translating it; and, sometimes, but not always, they give translations of phrases and structures. Dictionaries of this kind are useful to translators, but less useful to earnest students of language than diction­ aries which give meanings and explanations and exam­ ples in the foreign language itself.

Приложение 2

THE ENGLISH ALPHABET

Are you one of those unfortunate people who speak English very well but at once become worried when your teacher asks you to write? Don't be worried. Remember that a lot of English people have the same problem. Near my home there are at least two notices wrongly spelt and a lot of English people who are otherwise quite clever have to use dictionaries. What is wrong with this, for example: «Ould cars bought here*? The problem is this silly spelling, of course. As all those who read, know it just isn't logical.

Why isn' t English spelling logical ? The answer is that it isn't really spelling that is .wrong*. Hundreds of years ago the English pronounced wolds as they spelt them. In many cases it is the pronunciation that has changed. Why not change the spelling to fit the new pronunciation? Of course we have thought of that too.

In 1843 Isaac Pitman, who invented shorthand, pro­ posed a new alphabet of forty symbols. To make spelling fit pronunciation you need a different symbol for each sound. But you can use the same alphabet with just a few new symbols. Then leaving out silent letters like k in knife you just write the words as they sound. Kat for cat, etc. This is what Pitman wanted to do. Another idea is to use a completely different alphabet — phonetic alphabet.

Английский язык

This what George Bernard Shaw wanted. When he died he left money to pay for this, and in 1962 Androcles & the Lion came out in a phonetic alphabet using fortyeight symbols

But a hundred years after Isaac Pitman the English alphabet hasn't changed. It would need a lot of money to change it. Think of all the books in schools and libraries and the printing machines. Then too there are those who really like cur ridiculous spelling. There is in fact one new all habet' n use, the I.T^A or Initial Teaching Alphabet. The idea behind this is that children learn to read more quickly without the problems of English spelling. Reading early is important because by reading we can learn about other things. In many of our schools children learn to read with this new alphabet and learn the1 old alphabet later.

Some teachers don't like it. They say that the children will never learn to spell .properly*.

Meanwhile the latest news is that the Simplified Spell­ ing Society of Britain and the Simplified Spelling Asso­ ciation of USA have put their hands together. They think that English is becoming the most important language in the world and so we need logical spelling. They hope to publish a book explaining their ideas and proposing another new alphabet of forty-four symbols. The name of the book? .World English..

290

Приложение 2

О. HENRY

cowboy, a reporter, a clerk in a bank; he travelled about

The Ransom of Red Chief

I

It looked a good thing; but wait till I tell you. We were in the south, in Alabama — Bill and myself. We had about six hundred dollars, and we needed two thousand dollars more and did not know how to get them. It was then that we had that idea of kidnapping someone and demanding a ransom. There was a little town there, which was called Summit. We decided to kidnap the only child of a prominent rich man named Ebenezer Dorset. The child was a boy of ten, with bright red hair. Bill and I thought that if we kidnapped him, his father would

Английский язык

agree to pay a ransom of two thousand dollars. But wait till I tell you.

About two miles from the town of Summit there was a little mountain, covered with wood. On the slope of the mountain there was. a cave. In that cave we stored provi­ sions.

In a village three miles away we hired a horse with a little cart. In the evening, after sunset, we drove in that cart past Dorset's house. The boy wasdn the street. He was throwing stones at a kitten which was sitting on the fence across the street.

*Hey, little boy*, said Bill, «would you like a bag of candy and a nice ride?*

The boy threw a stone at Bill and hit him in the eye. That boy fought with us like a bear, but, at last, we put him in the bottom of the cart and drove away. We took him up to the cave.

After dark I drove to the village to return the horse and cart, and then walked back to the mountain.

When t returned, there was a fire burning behind a big rock at the entrance of the cave. Bill was sitting on the grass. The boy was watching a pot of boiling coffee. Two tail-feathers were stuck in his red hair. He pointed a stick at me when I came up and said:

«How cursed, pale-face do you dare to enter the camp of Red Chief, the terror of the plains?*

«Не is all right now*, said Bill. «We're playing Indi­ an. I'm Red Chief's captive, and I shall be scalped in the morning*.

Yes, sir, that boy was enjoying himself. He liked living in the cave so much, that he had forgotten that he was a captive himself. He immediately named me Snake-eye the Spy, and announced that I should be burnt at sunrise.

292

Приложение 2

Then we had supper; and he filled his mouth full of bacon and bread, and .began to talk. He made a long speech, something like this: «I like this very much. I never camped out before. I was nine last birthday. I hate to go to school. Rats ate up sixteen of Jimmy's aunt's hen's eggs. Are there any real Indians in these woods? I want some more bacon. Does the wind blow because the trees move? We had five puppies. Why is, your nose so red, Bill? My father has lots of money. Are the stars hot? I don't like girls. Have you beds in this cave? A parrot can talk, but a monkey or a fish can't*.

Every few minutes he remembered that he was a red skin and took his stick, which he called his rifle, and went to the mouth of the cave to see if there were any spies of the pale-faces. Now and then he let out a warwhoop, which made Bill shiver. He was simply terrorized by that boy.

«Red Chief*, said I to the boy, « would you like to go home?* «No», said he. «I don't have any fun at home. I hate to go to school. I like to camp out. You won't take me back home, Snake-eye, will you?*

- «Not now*, said I. «We shall stay here in the cave for sometime*. «А11 right*, said he. «That'll be fine. I nev­ er had such fun in my life*.

II

We went to bed about eleven o'clock. We slept on the ground on some blankets. We put Red Chief between us. We were not afraid that he would run away. We could not fall asleep for three hours because every now and then he jumped up and shouted in our ears that the pale-faces were coming. At last I fell asleep and dreamed that I had been kidnapped and tied to a tree by a pirate with red hair.

293

Английский язык

Just at daybreak I woke up because Bill was screaming. I jumped up to see what the matter was. Red Chief was sit­ ting on Bill's chest, holding him by the hair with one hand.

In the other hand he had the sharp knife which we used for cutting bacon. He was trying to take Bill's scalp.

I took the knife from the child and made him lie down again. But Bill could not sleep. I slept a little, but then I woke up. I remembered that Red Chief was going to burn me at sunrise. I was not afraid, but I sat up and lit my pipe.

•Why did you get up so early, Sam?* asked Bill. •Oh, I don't want to sleep*, said I.

•That's a Не!» said Bill. «You are afraid. He was go­ ing to burn you at sunrise, and you are afraid he will do it. And he will, if he finds a match. Isn't it awful, Sam? Do you think anybody will pay money to get such a boy back home? &

•Of course*, said I. •Now you and the Chief get up and cook breakfast, and I shall go to the top of the moun­ tain and look around*.

I went up to the top of the little mountain and looked down at the town. I thought there would be many people in the streets, talking about how a boy was kidnapped and how to find, him. But the streets of the little town were quiet, there were almost no people, nobody was excited. .Perhaps*, I said to myself, «they don't know yet that a child has been kidnapped*.

Ill

When I came back to the cave, I saw that Bill was standing with his back to the wall, breathing hard. The boy was standing in front of him, ready to strike him with a big stone.

294

Приложение 2

«Не put a hot potato down my back*, explained Bill, •and then mashed it with his foot; and I boxed his ears. •Have you a gun, Sam?*

I took the stone away from the boy. •If you don't behave, « I said, «Г11 take you straight home. Now, are you going to be good or not? *

•It was a joke*, said he. Л didn't want to hurt him. Г11 behave, Snake-eye, if you don't send me home and if you let me play the Black Scout today*.

•I don't know the game*, said I. «Г т going away, and you will play with Bill*.

I thought that it was time to send a letter to old man Dorset, demanding the ransom and dictating how that ransom must be paid. Bill asked me, with tears in his eyes, to make the ransom fifteen hundred dollars instead of two thousand. I agreed, and we wrote this Letter:

back only if you pay a ransom. We demand fifteen hun­ dred dollars for his return. If you agree, send the money

I put the letter into my pocket. As I was going to start, the boy came up to me and said:

295

Английский язык

«I say*, Snake-eye, you said I could play the Black Scout today*, *Play it, of course*, said I. «Mr. Bill will play with you. What kind of game is it?*

•I'm the Black Scout*, said Red Chief, •and I must ride to the fort to tell the people there that the Indians are coming. I'm tired of playing Indian myself. I want to be the Black Scout*. — «А11 right*, said I. «I think Mr. Bill will help you*. «What must I do?* asked Bill, look­ ing at the boy. «You are the horse », said the Black Scout. «Get down on your hands and knees. How can I ride to the fort without a horse?*

Bill got down on his hands and knees. In his eyes there was a look that a rabbit has when you catch it in a trap. «How far is it to the fort?* he asked.

•Ninety miles*, said the Black Scout and jumped on Bill's back. .Please*, said Bill to me, «соте back, Sam, as soon as you can *.

IV

I went to the village and sent the letter. When I came back to the cave, Bill and the boy were not there. I walked around but did not see them. So I lit my pipe and sat down to wait.

In about half an hour Bill came out of the bushes. Behind him was the boy. He was walking noiselessly, like a scout, there was a broad smile on his face. Bill stopped, took off his hat and wiped his face with a red handkerchief. The boy stopped about eight feet behind him. «Sam*, said Bill, «I suppose you will be angry, but I couldn't help it. The boy has gone, I have sent him home*. «What's the matter, Bill?* I asked him.

«Не rode те» , said Bill*, «the ninety miles to the fort. Then, when the people were saved, I was given oats. And then, for an hour, I had to try to explain to

296

Приложение 2

him why there is nothing in holes, how a road can run both ways, « and what makes the grass green. I tell you, Sam, I could not stand it. I took him down the mountain, and showed him the way home, and kicked him .I'm sorry we lose the ransom*.

•Bill*, said I, •you have no heart diseases?* «No», said Bill, •why?*

•Then you may turn around*, said I, «and see what's behind you*. Bill turned and saw the boy. Bill turned pale and sat down on the ground. Then I told him that I had already sent the letter, and that we should get the ransom and go away by midnight. So Bill cheered up a little and promised the boy that he would play the Russian in the Japanese war with him.

I had a plan to get that ransom without danger. I had to be sure that Mr. Dorset would not send policemen to those trees. So I went to that place beforehand, and at half-past eight I was already sitting in one of those trees. A young man on a bicycle appeared on the road, rode up to the trees, found the box, put a parcel into it and rode away.

I waited an hour and then climbed down. I took the parcel and hurried back to the cave. We opened the parcel and found a note, which said:

Two Desperate Men.

Gentlemen: I have received your letter in which you

lars, after all?. We have the money. One more night with this child will send me to the madhouse*.

•To tell you the truth, Bill*, said I, «he is getting on my nerves*, too. We'll take him home, pay the ransom and go away*, We took him home that night. We told him that his father had bought a rifle and a pair of moccasins for him, and that the next night we should go to hunt bears.

It was just twelve o'clock when we knocked at Ebenezer's front door. We counted our two hundred and fifty dollars into Dorset's hand.

When the boy understood that we were leaving him at home, he started up a howl and caught hold of Bill's leg. With much difficulty his father tore him off, «How long can you hold him?* asked Bill. «I am not as strong as I was*, said old Dorset, «but I think I can promise you ten minutes*. «Enough*, said Bill.

And though it was very dark, and though Bill was fat, and though I am a good runner, he was a good mile and a half out of Summit before I could catch up with him.

Приложение 2

SPREADING THE WORD

Many people say that the British read millions of books, newspapers and magazines each day. Most of us read at least one newspaper a day and often pick up a copy of a book that is being read by hundreds of people, perhaps at the same time in the same language. I wonder how

.many people stop and think back to that day in the not- so-distant past when the first sheet of printed paper came off the first printing press used in England. That was in the year 1477 when William Caxton brought his printing press from Flanders, set it up at Westminster in the shadow of the old Abbey and set to work to pro­ duce the first books in English.

Canterbury Tales by Chaucer, who lived from 1340 to 1400, was among the books he printed, together with many translations from Latin and French.

Canterbury Tales was very popular among the people who could read at that time. These educated people who lived mainly in London could easily understand the lan­ guage of Canterbury Tales because it was written in the dialect of London. But people from other parts of Eng­ land couldn't understand very much because at that time each county had-its own dialect. So the people of Kent, the West Country, the Midlands, London, the North and